Can someone help me? I'm trying to buy sound equipment for a documentary shoot, I'd like to spend between $400 and $800.

Is the Sennheiser ME-66 a smart choice? It seems like a solid buy at $400. How about the Audio-Technica AT897? Audio-Technica AT835b? Azden SGM-2X? And what does phantom-powered mean? K-6? Does that mean it steals power from the camera battery instead of from a separate battery?

I'm also wondering if it makes sense to buy some sort of Cardioid camera? Sennheiser ME-64? In what situations would this mic be useful?

lightwave make some good poles with internal cabling, however i think a pair of lavs (Senny G2's) an ME66 and K6 shotgun, and a rycote pistol grip would suffice. I use an ME64 and i cant fault it for what i do (vox poppish on the street stuff, but more within controlled environments.

I usually run a wireless boom seup, by conncting the K6 to the transmitter. This allows my sound guy to run around with the talent. Also lapels allow u to use lapels for controled interviews and anything else really.. theyre a great invention i have to say..

Yeah, since you have phantom power, skip the ME series and the AT897 altogether. The sole reason to buy those mics is because they have their own power supplies. Do a search. There are lots of recommendations in here in your price range. Will you be shooting exteriors and interiors? If you will be shooting in primarily one environment or the other it will make a great difference on your choice of mic. Personally, I'd probably blow the whole wad on a Sanken CS1.

Yeah, since you have phantom power, skip the ME series and the AT897 altogether. The sole reason to buy those mics is because they have their own power supplies. Do a search. There are lots of recommendations in here in your price range. Will you be shooting exteriors and interiors? If you will be shooting in primarily one environment or the other it will make a great difference on your choice of mic. Personally, I'd probably blow the whole wad on a Sanken CS1.

Dear Marco,

Beg to disagree with you. The main reason for buying this mic should be the quality and the pick up pattern. I choose to power my mic with a $1 AA battery than put extra draw hours on my $50 camera battery. Get a battery tester and check your AA before your shoot and then replace them when needed.

BTW: Exteriors, interiors, etc. As long as you have a GOOD shotgun mic and know how to manipulate the filters, it should be useable, (with a Softie of course for ext.) in either application.

Unfortunately the AT-897 that I purchased doesn't have all the filters I mentioned, (due to budget restrictions). But I used a Senn ? for 11 years as a network photographer both inside and out and was able to record acceptable audio in a multitude of different scenarios. Work the mic man!

Sincerely,

Stephanie

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